My very first blog post! My trip to Bologna was so wonderful that I felt I just had to write about it (although it is a little late)! I’ve now created this blog to share everything from the Bologna Book Fair, as well as fun activities, projects, and experiences along my journey as a freelance illustrator.
Like any trip, before leaving, I did a lot of research on local attractions, interesting shops, and, most importantly, the best places to eat!
I began my trip in Venice, which I’d heard mixed reviews about, but I was pleasantly surprised. I took the water bus (the Alilaguna) from the airport, which I highly recommend. It’s an hour-long journey, and since I was staying toward the southern part of Venice, the route weaved through the main canal, showcasing many of the major tourist attractions (plus, it was only around 15 euros—compared to gondolas, which cost around 150-200 euros). I woke up early one morning to catch the sunrise over some of the main tourist spots, which also meant I avoided the hustle and bustle of the crowds. All in all venice was lovely, if you dont mind walking around you only need around 2/3 days to see everything.
Now, the juicy bit – Bologna. I took a train from the Venice mainland to Bologna, which was relatively affordable compared to UK rates. I stayed on the north side of the city, and since public transport here is very efficient, I could easily take a bus to and from the city center.
I spent my first afternoon exploring the city, enjoying lovely wine, pasta, and, of course, incredible ice cream. If you don’t get ice cream in Bologna, you’re definitely missing out! I also visited the LibreriaPer Ragazzi, a book shop right in the centre and full of incredible picture books. Later, I packed my bag with promotional materials and got everything ready for the fair the next morning.
I got to the fair in very good time (maybe 45 minutes before opening) and the queue was already huge, so I would recommend getting there eary!
So.. what is the Bologna Children's Book Fair?
The Bologna Children's Book Fair is an event where publishers from around the world gather to sell rights to their books in other countries. Each year, more and more illustrators attend as a way to connect directly with publishers, showcase their work, and build valuable relationships.
What is the illustrators' wall?
If you’ve read about the book fair before, you may have heard of the illustrators' wall and might wonder what it’s all about. Well, it’s complete chaos—in the best way!
The illustrators' wall begins each day as a giant blank canvas where illustrators can pin up their work and contact information. As soon as the main doors open illustrators rush to get the best spots on the wall and flood it with prints, postcards and business cards and there are hundreds of them! Luckily I was near the front of the queue so managed to get a few peices up before it was too full.
If you’re visiting the Children's Book Fair and want to display your work on the illustrators' wall, make sure you come prepared! Bring double-sided tape and a good-sized print to help your work stand out from the smaller business cards and postcards. :) I saw some incredibly creative displays, including an illustrated bike with a 3D basket holding business cards..
Portfolio Reviews
This year, the Book Fair offered portfolio reviews, which were bookable a few days before the event through Eventbrite. Just like with the illustrators' wall, as soon as booking opened, everything was reserved within seconds! Luckily, I managed to get a spot with Luddington Creative. If you’re unable to book in advance, don’t worry. On the morning of the event, browse the publisher stands—many offer portfolio reviews you can sign up for and return to later in the day or on a different day.
My review with Lucy was fantastic! She complimented my story ideas and characters and really boosted my confidence. Before going, I created a portfolio on my ipad to take with me. This was a simple 10 page or so pdf document that showcased some of my newest finished work along with some sketchs. I’d highly recommend taking your portfolio and getting any review you can, they are great experience and can be extremely helpful in yor career.
Oliver Jeffers: The Man, the Myth, the Legend
Oliver Jeffers is the reason I started illustrating. If you don’t know his work, he’s an Irish picture book creator who both writes and illustrates his stories. He often uses a mix of mediums, and his writing is both charming and captivating.
Amazingly he was doing a talk on the day I was at the fair, again I got there an hour early and seats quickly filled up, people were even sharing seats and standing at the back. Again, like Lucy, Oliver was extremely inspiring and filled me with hope for my future career.
I also bought a copy of his new book that he then signed :)
What should I take to Bologna book fair?
Portfolio - Digital or Printed
Business Cards
A poster/print for the illustrators wall
Postcards
Notepad
Packed Lunch
Layers (it was very hot at the start of the day, but youll likely need something warm for the journey home)
Confidence.
Would I go again?
Yes! My visit to the Bologna Book Fair was magical—an experience I once thought I'd never have, and I’m extremely glad I did. It opened my eyes to the incredible variety of work being published and filled me with confidence for my future career.
While I’d love to go again, I don’t think it’s something I’ll do for a few years. I think it would be nice to return in 3-4 years to see a whole new selection of picture books and publishers.
To Finalise - the Do's and Dont's
Do book your hotel early! - Hotels get extremely expensive during this time, so dont put it off.
Enjoy the city - The City is beautiful, save a day or an afternoon to look around and eat its incredible food.
Don't carry too much - I did around 35,000 steps a day and the fair and with a heavy backpack, its exhausting
and lastly, don't get overwhelmed - Theres alot to see and alot to compare yourself to. If it gets too much, see the trip as purely inspiration, take away new starting points and creative influence.
Thank you for reading and if theres anything else you would liek to know please get in touch!
Kommentare